What's Blooming?

Here's to my first Garden Blogger's Bloom Day
in my new house in zone 10!! 
Some of this month's spring blooms are new additions
and others are long-time residents that we've uncovered
as we clear the brush and brambles.

First, our newest addition, as of YESTERDAY...
BAMBOO!!!! 
I'll post more about this later this week, but the bamboo is too good to be left out. 

We added Graceful Bamboo (Bambusa textilix gracilis)

and China Gold Bamboo with it's golden canes and green vertical stripes.

These two are youngsters having weathered the cold winter temps,

 but will grow to mature canes THIS YEAR (bamboo is a very fast grower)

showing their decorative features. 

Quick shout out to my friend, Russell,

aka Jungle Man, at Jupiter Jungle!! 

These are two of Russ' babies!

Following are several other additions adding color to the landscape,

albeit young starter plants. 

I'm excited to look back next year and compare the photots!!

These beautiful little Begonias live in our newly formed Asiatic Garden. 

They share the space with this lovely Azalea.

The Bulbine adapted quickly with little-to-no sign of relocation stress.

A butterfly magnet and food source for larvae,
the Tropical Milkweed is a necessity in my garden!

STEP BACK!!!

It's an army of Eastern Lubber nymphs crowding together

on one of my crinum lily leaves. 

 It's a really great thing that they huddle together or I'd never have seen them. 

After a quick google search,

I located a post by my friend at Terra Mirabilis

that helped me identify and "handle" this situation.

I found more of these horrifying little pests on several clusters of Palms and Saw Palmettos.

I know, that was unexpected and uncalled for...
back to pretty things.

This lovely Crossandra is so attractive with its Orange Marmalade

blooms and glossy green leaves!
It's actually been on my wish list for a couple of years.
Now I can scratch that one off.

This Lady Margaret Passion Vine is sooooo exotic! 

A definite favorite of mine!

Jane Cowell Hibiscus is bright and graceful.
 I think it's warm and welcoming.

The Plumbago also adds a welcoming, Old Florida feel to the garden.

Cool color for hot Florida afternoons!

I opted to keep this cheerful bunch of Red-Orange Kalanchoe in a pot

since everything else I plant in this location has been a meal

 or two for the local bunnies.

I planted this red Verbena at the roadside where it struggled

with the harsh environment until last week's rains.

Now it's in beautiful bloom!!!

Some long-time residents that I'm in love with...

I found some of these Caladium / Elephant Ears

hiding in the brambles during a clearing session. 

Here's another type in the same vicinity.

And yet, more Caladiums surfaced under a Saw Palmetto clump...

a little early, I think.

So, I decided to plant some bulbs under the Palmettos...

it'll look amazing with a sea of red and pink
 bursting out from under the Palmettos!

This bright Lantana had to be cut to the ground after moving in...

it was so full of thorny vines and other weeds

 that there was no saving it. 

It's now about knee high and blooming nonstop. 

 The butterflies are happy again!

And the Yellow Pond Lilies are a constant source of cheer!!

Some of the wild flowers are putting on a fabulous show right now, too!

Spiderwort

Viola Blanda

Big shout out to my friend, Rick Brown,
 for helping to positively identify this Viola and the Clematis below!!

Clematis baldwini or Pinewoods Clematis

Tickseed

Spanish Needle

Blue Eyed Grass

Fleabane

And speaking of wild residents...

LOLA has warmed up to her new tropical paradise. 

She enjoys perching by the Areca Palms

while we continue clearing the property. 

The Arecas are not enjoying her nibbling ways,

but Lola thinks it's funny. 

 Can't you see her smile?!

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

Be sure to visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens
to see what other gardens are displaying this month!